MAC Announces 2017-18 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday, October 25th the 2017-18 Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Buffalo and Central Michigan were selected to each win their respective divisions in 2018 as both programs return veteran squads. Aside from being selected as the favorites to win the regular season, the Chippewas were also tabbed to win the 2018 MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament in March.
The Bulls are coming off their second 20-win season with 11 letter winners returning. Kent State is favored to finish second. The Golden Flashes grabbed the MAC East title a year ago with a 13-5 conference record. Rounding out the East Division is Ohio in third, Miami fourth, Bowling Green fifth and Akron sixth.
For Central Michigan, seven letter winners return for the 2018 campaign including 2016-17 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Tinara Moore. Toledo is selected to finish second. The defending MAC Tournament Champions bring back nine from that 2017 squad. Ball State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan complete the West, respectively.
Buffalo’s Stephanie Reid was selected to the Preseason All-MAC East Division Team. Bowling Green’s Carly Santoro, Ohio’s Taylor Agler and Miami’s Lauren Dickerson complete the squad for the East.
Presley Hudson of Central Michigan and teammate, Tinara Moore were selected represent the Chippewas on the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team. Joining them are Moriah Monaco from Ball State, Toledo’s Mikaela Boyd and Western Michigan’s Breanna Mobley.
The MAC regular season tips off on Friday, November 10 as eight of the 12 MAC programs hit the court. The road to Cleveland begins on Saturday, December 30th as MAC play commences. The 2018 Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 5th on the high-seed campuses of the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds before moving to Quicken Loans Arena on March 7th.
2017-18 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Buffalo (10 first place votes) – 69 points
2. Kent State (1) - 52
3. Ohio (1) – 47
4. Miami – 40
5. Bowling Green – 23
6. Akron – 21
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Michigan (10 first place votes) – 70 points
2. Toledo (1) - 60
3. Ball State (1) - 46
4. Western Michigan - 32
5. Northern Illinois - 29
6. Eastern Michigan - 15
2018 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (10), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1)
2018 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Central Michigan (9), Ball State (1), Buffalo (1), Western Michigan (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Carly Santoro, Bowling Green, Junior, Guard
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo, Senior, Guard
Jordan Korinek, Kent State, Senior, Forward
Lauren Dickerson, Miami, Sophomore, Guard
Taylor Agler, Ohio, R-Senior, Guard
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Moriah Monaco, Ball State, Senior, Forward
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan, Junior, Guard
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan, Senior, Forward
Mikaela Boyd, Toledo, Junior, Guard
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan, Junior, Forward
